Disclaimer: I don't own anything in here except for Reginald Hall. There's really no point in saying that, because you guys already know, but I have to anyways.

FINALLY! After four chapters of waiting for some Michael-Mia fluff, you're gonna get it! So why are you reading this, Scroll down and read chapter five!

Chapter 5. The Ball, Part I

Limo to Reginald Hall (Saturday, Six PM

I really, REALLY don't want to go dance with a bunch of other royal guys who I have no desire to 'get to know', as Grandmere put it. Did I mention that? Because I don't. Want to dance, I mean. Unless it's with Michael. In fact, the only thing that's keeping me from opening this limo door at a red light and bolting out of here is the fact that my friends will be there. I really hope Michael sticks to his word about helping me escape all the royal stiffs. Because then MAYBE I will get a chance to dance with him. If, you know, he asks me.

Woah there, Mia. Don't get your hopes up, because most likely they will only get crushed to dust.

Besides, Lilly will totally be there, and so will Tina and Boris (I told Lilly she could bring him if she made sure he didn't wear a sweater. Tina didn't bring Dave for fear that he might get jealous about her obsession with Prince William and flee from her like startled fawn. I, for one, can't blame her.) So even if hell froze over and Michael really DOES like me for some reason unknown to mankind, he would probably be too shy to ask me to dance since his sister will be RIGHT THERE. Because, according to Lilly, Michael is too much of a freak to ever have a girlfriend. Or any friends.

I, On the contrary, think Michael is FAR from a freak.

But I'm pretty sure you know that already.

I wonder if he'll notice that I actually look pretty good tonight. I mean, Paulo totally did all this stuff to my hair, so now it's nice and straight and shiny and not so triangular shaped. Also, Grandmere pretty much forced me to let him do my makeup, although I fully made sure that the products were NOT tested on animals. Thankfully, he only put so much on so that it appears natural, but it definitely improves my look, if you ask me.

Anyway, so before I left Grandmere's suite fully in my evening wear, including my tiara (she made me wear it), she told me that when all the guests had arrived and everyone started to talk and dance, I had to accept any invitations from any of the young men there to dance with them.

Now, this may sound like a reasonable request.

But she accompanied it with one of her glares, which sent a shiver down Rommel's spine, and said it so that it was more of a threat than anything.

Whatever. If Michael asks me to dance (PLEASE, I WILL NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING AGAIN, GOD) then she can't yell at me for dancing with what she says is a commoner, because, you know, they're HER rules. And that would be totally unfair, if she yelled at me for dancing with him instead of a royal.

Still, I wouldn't put it past her.

Oh, CRUD. We're here. I just looked out the window, and there are reporters and paparazzi EVERYWHERE. Lars just totally made sure his guns were in place before getting out of the car. How is it that being royal makes you so... POPULAR? It's not like us royals even had to DO anything to become heirs. I mean, no one's even HERE yet, but still, they're all over the place with their cameras.

Well, Lilly-and-Boris, Tina, and Michael are supposed to come early so I can talk to them for a few minutes.

In other words, so I can warn them of the danger that is Grandmere before said danger gets here. She only agreed to let me come before her because my dad (BLESS HIM) gave me permission and promised to be at Reginald Hall early, too, so that someone would be there with me. Well, besides Lars. And all the security.

I have to get out of this limo before Lars starts to get really impatient (he's already tapping his foot outside. Geez, bodyguards get so touchy).

I can't wait to see Michael in a tux!

Reginald Hall bathroom (6:45 PM)

Wow. It's kind of amazing how whenever I go somewhere important, I end up sitting in a bathroom stall.

Anyway, the dancing is going to start soon, so I have to be quick. Lilly probably already thinks I'm constipated, or something.

When I got out of the limo, all these reporters and paparazzi immediately started JUMPING all around me, flashing their cameras and calling my name. I could just make out the front door to the hall through the blinding lights when Lars jumped right in, pushing them away and saying gruffly, "Princess Mia has no comments," giving me a clear view to bolt for the door.

So that's what I did.

I guess the doorman guy recognized me (or maybe the tiara) and gave a little bow as I approached, saying "Welcome, Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo. You may proceed into the Hall, when you're ready. Someone should attend to you right away." And then he lifted his head and checked something off on his clipboard.

So I took his advice and went inside, Lars walking in behind me.

"Princess, if you don't mind, I'll be off now as it seems there is plenty of security around here."

I don't think Lars has said so many words at one time to me since he started being my bodyguard. In fact, most of his sentences consist of fewer than four words. "Sure, Lars," I said, looking around for Lilly-and-Boris and Tina and Michael.

"I'll be over there if you need me."

"Sure, Lars."

"Prince Phillipe should be here any minute."

"Sure, Lars."

I think he was getting the idea that I just wanted to go find my friends, so he left me alone and went to talk to the security guys.

Thankfully, I didn't have to look for very long. Because just as I was about to go ask Lars what time all the ROYAL guests, including my Grandmother, would be arriving, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"This place is bigger than our whole freakin' apartment building! How many people are going to BE here?"

I turned around and there was Lilly, staring at the many chandeliers on the ceiling, wearing a Betsy Johnson number (A/N: Had to use it, I'm not very in touch with designer names). Boris was standing next to her, wearing a green tuxedo.

Maybe I should've let him wear a sweater.

Anyway, I was about to ask where Michael was, but it turns out I didn't have to. Because a moment after, he ran in, cheeks pink from the autumn air, explaining that he had to park the car his parents let them borrow. Maybe it was my imagination, but it looked like his whole face lit up when he saw me. I have to say, Michael DOES look totally hot in a tux. At least it was black.

Lilly hugged me as a hello, followed by Boris, who smelled a little like new shoes. It kind of freaked me out, but I guess Lilly insisted on taking him shopping before coming. I can only be thankful.

And then Michael came over and hugged me, too. It was different than Lilly's and Boris's hugs, besides the fact that it seemed longer. What I couldn't tell, really, was whether or not it was a hug you would give just a friend, or someone you liked. I'm sad to say I'm not really skilled in these things.

Michael let me go, much to my dismay, and just looked at me. Lilly looked from him to me and visibly rolled her eyes. "Hey, POG, point me to the refreshment table, it took us an hour to get here and I'm STARVING." She sounded annoyed, for some reason.

Michael was still looking at me. I had to look away from those peat bog eyes, or I knew I would have gotten sucked straight into them and then I wouldn't have been able to answer Lilly and then she would know that I'm in love with her brother.

"Don't call me POG! The refreshments are over there," I said, pointing in the direction I really hoped was the refreshments. Lilly pulled Boris towards the table, and it was just me and Michael.

Alone.

Well, not REALLY, because there were security dudes all over by the walls, but it was as alone as we would get. For the moment, anyway.

Michael pulled uncomfortably at the black bow tie around his neck. "So, Mia," he said, making my heart soar by just saying my NAME, "Where's the ballroom, anyway? This place looks easy to get lost in."

I didn't doubt that. Lilly pretty much summed up its whole size the minute she walked in. "Um, I don't really know. I didn't have time to explore." Grandmere didn't even bother to tell me where I was supposed to be GOING. That doorman guy said that someone would attend to me as soon as I got in there, but not ONE of the people rushing around came up to me and even greeted me. HELLO, what do they expect out of me? I'm only fourteen.

Michael shrugged. "Are we allowed to, now?"

"Allowed to... What?" I asked, looking at him suspiciously. And then about five seconds after I asked that I felt like slapping myself on the forehead. Because, you know, if I was actually listening to him and not daydreaming, I could've figured that out myself.

"Are we allowed to explore? There's got to be at least three huge floors on this building, and I for one would really like to know where I'm going."

I didn't even know what to make of that. Was he asking to explore with me? Or by himself? Or with the whole group?

But it turns out I didn't get a chance to ask. Because a voice that I recognized all too well said behind me, "Aw, Michael, shut it. You just want to be alone with Mia."

I turned around to give Lilly the best glare I could muster. She was holding a bunch of cheese cubes in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Somehow she had managed to talk with a cracker smothered in crab spread sticking half way out of her mouth. If Grandmere saw Lilly, I wouldn't have a best friend anymore. Because she'd be DEAD. Boris, I noticed, was still at the refreshment table, looking confused at the food. It would have been a funny sight, actually, because he was also talking to himself, but my face had heated up so badly at what Lilly said that all I could think about was my embarrassment.

I glanced at Michael. He was looking at Lilly like if she didn't stop talking, he would strangle her. His cheeks were red, too, but he seemed to regain himself and said, "Shut up, Lilly."

WHY didn't he object? What is going ON? WHY ARE THEY LOOKING AT EACH OTHER ALL MEANINGFULLY?

I felt bad for Michael. The two of them looked like they were exchanging telepathic conversation or something, and apparently Lilly was getting the upper hand. Finally she stopped glaring at him after like 10 MINUTES, and turned to me. "Okay, you guys go look around, I'll stay here and wait for Tina to come."

I was thoroughly shocked. Seems that's been happening A LOT lately around the Moscovitz siblings.

Tina! I had forgotten about Tina! Geez, what kind of friend AM I? I'd been so busy thinking about Michael and being shocked at Lilly's sudden gesture of kindness, I forgot she hadn't arrived yet.

"Um... okay. Thanks, Lil," I said. I know I should've stayed and waited for Tina, but by the time she got here Grandmere would probably already be here, too. And then I would be whisked away from my one true love (who, unfortunately, doesn't love me back) and have to make small talk with all the other guests. Hopefully Tina will understand, being a romantic.

So Lilly went back to help Boris find food that wasn't raw, and Michael and I were alone once again.

And then to my very great surprise (and utter enjoyment), Michael tugged my hand towards the room on my right. "Come on, Mia, let's look for the ballroom first."

So I followed him, trying to hold my dress up so that I wouldn't trip and fall flat on my face. When we made it to a dead end, I looked down both hallways on either side of me. They were REALLY long and had a lot of doors... that all looked the exact same. Since the building was rectangular, there were probably FOUR of these hallways, which meant A LOT of confusing doors. GEEZ, who BUILT this place, anyway?

"So... which door first?" I asked. Apparently Michael had been trying to open some of them, but they weren't giving.

"All the ones down here are locked. Let's try the next hallway."

So we went down the next hallway, and RIGHT THERE were these huge double doors that looked like they took more time to make then the rest of the building. They had all these carvings on them of detailed animals, and each animal had a pair of pearl eyes.

I gasped. I couldn't help it. "These doors are beautiful!" I said, carefully running my fingers over them (Grandmere would never forgive me if I broke something at my FIRST BALL).

"Relax, Thermopolis," Michael said, pulling on one door handle. "We haven't even gotten inside yet."

He was right. The inside was definitely the best part. There were ENORMOUS chandeliers all over the ceiling, and the walls and floor reminded me of the ballroom at the Von Trapp mansion in The Sound of Music. Actually, it looked almost identical to that one, besides the fact that it was way larger.

I wondered if there was a garden, too...

Michael stood in the middle of the ballroom, staring at the ceiling, while I went over to the windows lining the part of the ballroom that was sticking outside. And there it was.

A little pond sat in the middle of some cobblestone pathways, with flowers all over the place. It was so serene looking, not to mention beautiful.

"Michael, this place is so beautiful!" I said, twirling around on the dance floor (whenever I have a full length dress or skirt on, twirling becomes a favorite past time).

"Yeah, it is," he replied in what I figured was quiet awe, or something.

I had twirled all the way across the floor, nearly knocking into Michael because I was so dizzy. But instead of getting knocked over, Michael took my hand in his and twirled me once so that when I came back around, he stopped me by putting his other hand on my waist.

This, obviously, surprised me. Because Michael has never been to a school dance before, let alone somewhere you would dance like THAT (like this ball). "Michael! How do YOU know how to dance?"

Michael shrugged. "In my freshman year at AEHS, we had Ballroom Dance class. They replaced it in my sophomore year with G&T, though." He thought for a moment. "I don't really remember very much of what we were taught." He looked at me curiously, not moving his hand from my waist. "How do YOU know how to dance?"

"Grandmere," I said. Sometimes, that single word answers all questions.

And then I really don't know how it happened, but the soul of some outgoing, pretty girl must have taken over my body, because I put a hand on Michael's shoulder, tightened my grip on his hand that was already in mine, and said, "Well, I'll refresh your memory. Unless you want to look like an idiot out here tonight." Of course, after I said this, my cheeks instantly burned up. "Not that you're an idiot, or anything."

Thankfully, Michael smiled. "I know, Mia." His expression switched to a thoughtful one, and then he said, "I think I can remember some of this..."

And we were dancing. Well, as close to it as we would probably get. We were also laughing pretty hard, because we kept stepping on each others feet and getting our fingers all twisted when Michael tried to twirl me. I would have been totally happy just to be there dancing with Michael in an empty ballroom all night, with no Grandmere or other royals or anything. But my feet started to hurt (from dancing AND from being stepped on), so Michael twirled me one last time.

Only on the last twirl, I somehow ended up closer to him. And both of Michael's hands ended up around my waist.

And neither of us was laughing.

We were just looking at each other. I was letting myself get sucked into Michael's peat bog eyes, and I got that weird warm fuzzy feeling in my stomach.

Michael cleared his throat. "Mia, I-"

"MIA! MICHAEL! THERE you guys are! Mia, your grandmother got here fifteen minutes ago, and she is royally pissed..." Lilly looked at us suspiciously, narrowing her eyes like a cat. "What are you guys doing?"

Michael seemed to remember where his hands were and he dropped them away from my waist. I really wanted to kill Lilly. Michael was ABOUT to say something, and now I'll never know what it was!

"We got... um... lost," I said weakly. I could tell it was weak, because my voice totally faltered on the word 'lost'.

"Ok... well, all you have to do is make a right when you get out of this ballroom. It only took me like a minute to find you guys. Anyway, you'd better get downstairs, Mia. I wasn't kidding when I said your grandmother was pissed."

So Michael and I followed Lilly out of the ballroom and down the stairs, where I saw people were already beginning to arrive. The front Hall was half full of royals, all talking to each other and eating cheese. I spotted Tina, wearing a long red dress with her hair all done up, talking to Boris by the foot of the staircase.

"Finally!" She said, hugging me as I got closer. "I was wondering where you guys went." She shot me a meaningful look, which I pretended not to notice because both Lilly AND Michael were watching.

And then the danger approached.

"AMELIA!" Grandmere barked, wearing (what else) purple. "WHERE have you been? You have guests, go mingle!" As she said this, she smiled at the Emperor of Japan's son. It's really amazing how she can do that. Say something really threateningly to one person while smiling at another at the same time.

I really didn't want to go mingle. I don't know HOW to mingle! So I did the only thing I could think of.

"I have to go to the bathroom."

Yeah, I know, it's horrible, but it was my only escape route.

Uh Oh. Lilly just came in here and knocked on the stall and said, "Mia, everyone's already in the ballroom! You're supposed to go to the second floor and descend the grand staircase (the other side of it leads to the ballroom)! EVERYONE is waiting for you!" And now she's leaving in a huff.

So I guess I should probably go, unless I want my head to be chopped off by Grandmere.

Well. Here goes.

DUN, DUN, DUN. SUSPENSE! What will happen between Mia and Michael? Will Michael get to tell Mia what he was going to say? Find out in part II!

So NO, that is NOT the end of this part! There's another one, which I will post very shortly after this. So you won't have to wait for like three days or anything.

Thanks to: The real Violet Parr, Literati Lover, and shwartzibrow. Your reviews are so great, I love reading them! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

---- alyssa ----